Hungary confirmed its commitment in the Human Rights Council to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and girls. We also presented good practices to promote women’s economic empowerment, like the „Women in Family and at Workplace” initiative, the network of „Family and Career Points” and the „Family Friendly Work Place Award”. Read the full statement below:
“Madam President,
Hungary aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the EU and would like to offer the following views and good practices in its national capacities.
We thank the Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls for its report and commend the choice of the topic: gender dimensions of major trends changing the world of work, including technological and demographic changes, accelerated globalization and the shift to sustainable economies.
Hungary shares the views by the Working Group that underline the need to focus on the structural and systemic discrimination already faced by women in all facets of their life, which places them at greater risk of further discrimination.
In Hungary, to fight discrimination and to promote women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work, we consider of utmost importance to offer flexible and atypical forms of employment as well as new forms of day-care nursery systems making it easier for women to reconcile work and family life. The Government issued a tender with the title of ‘Women in Family and at Workplace’ in order to improve the employment situation of women.
71 Family and Career Points were established nationwide organizing trainings and coaching on the personal development of women as well as developing their entrepreneurial and self-employment skills. The Child Care Fee Extra package were designed to help families with young children in multiple situations, whether another baby is born or if the mother decides to work while taking care of a child.
There was a substantial wage increase in some sectors with typically female employees in the recent years such as the health sector, education sector, the social, the child welfare and the child protection sectors as well as in the cultural sector.
The Hungarian Government considers it of high importance to create a family-friendly and supporting milieu. The Family Friendly Work Place Award, for instance, rewards companies doing the most to create family friendly working conditions and approach to make it easier for mothers to do their best at home and at their workplaces as well.
Madam President,
We cannot talk about discrimination against women without making a reference to the interlinked violence they face. Gender-based violence and harassment in the workplace persist at different levels around the world. In recent years an unprecedented number of women have spoken out about sexual violence and harassment and the systems of power and domination that have silenced them for so long.
The Hungarian Government strongly condemns all forms of violence against women, including at the workplace or in a relationship and is committed to eliminate all abuses. New policies aimed at fighting violence against women through victim support services, promoting the reconciliation of work and family obligations, job protection systems, as well as reducing the gender pay gap are instrumental in that respect.
I thank you Madame President!”